Oh, planning some travel with Southwest, are we? Excellent choice! Southwest Airlines and its Rapid Rewards program offer a fantastic way to fly, especially with their famously customer-friendly policies like two free checked bags and no change fees. If you're looking to bridge a gap in your points balance or simply want to maximize your travel opportunities, buying Southwest Airlines points can be a useful strategy. Let's dive into exactly how to do it, step by step!
How to Buy Southwest Airlines Points: Your Complete Guide to Boosting Your Rapid Rewards Balance
Whether you're just a few points shy of a dream vacation or looking to top off your account for an upcoming trip, purchasing Southwest Rapid Rewards points can be a quick and convenient solution. It's not always the most economical way to acquire points, but it can be incredibly strategic in certain situations.
Step 1: Are You Ready to Fly Smarter? Understand When Buying Points Makes Sense!
Before we even click a single button, let's ask ourselves: Is buying points the right move for you right now? This is the most crucial first step, as purchasing points can sometimes be more expensive than simply paying for a cash ticket if not done strategically.
When it makes sense:
To Top Off Your Account for a Specific Redemption: You're just a few thousand points short of booking that perfect flight, and the cash price is significantly higher than the cost of buying the needed points.
During a Promotion: Southwest occasionally offers bonuses on purchased points (e.g., 25% or 50% extra points). This significantly reduces the effective cost per point and can make buying points a worthwhile endeavor. Always keep an eye out for these!
To Qualify for Companion Pass: While purchased points do not directly count towards the Companion Pass (which requires 135,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year), having a robust points balance can indirectly help. For instance, if you earn a significant sign-up bonus from a Southwest credit card that counts towards Companion Pass, buying a small amount to reach a specific redemption threshold for your own travel could be part of a larger strategy. However, note that points earned from credit card spending are generally the primary way to hit the Companion Pass qualifying point threshold, not purchased points.
Emergency Travel: You need to book a last-minute flight, and the cash price is exorbitant, but a points redemption is still reasonable.
When it might not make sense:
No Immediate Need: If you don't have a specific flight in mind, buying points just to have them can be a poor investment, as they generally cost more than their redemption value unless a significant promotion is active.
High Cost Per Point: Without a promotion, Southwest points typically sell for around 2.75 to 3 cents per point. Given that their redemption value usually hovers around 1.3 to 1.5 cents per point, you'd be paying almost double what they're worth.
Take a moment to consider your travel goals and current points balance. If you're confident that buying points aligns with your strategy, let's move on!
Step 2: Accessing the Rapid Rewards Points Purchase Portal
This is where the actual buying process begins. Southwest makes it relatively straightforward.
Sub-heading: Option A: Through Your Rapid Rewards Account
Log In: Go to Southwest.com and log in to your Rapid Rewards account. If you don't have an account, you'll need to enroll first – it's free and quick!
Navigate to "Rapid Rewards": Once logged in, look for the "Rapid Rewards" tab or link, usually found at the top of the page.
Find "Buy, Gift, & Transfer Points": Under the "Manage" section within the Rapid Rewards menu, you'll typically find an option like "Buy, Gift, & Transfer Points." Click on this.
Select "Buy Points": You'll be presented with various options (Buy, Gift, Transfer, Donate, etc.). Choose "Buy Points" for your own account.
Sub-heading: Option B: During the Booking Process
Search for a Flight: Begin the flight booking process on Southwest.com as you normally would.
Proceed to Payment: Go through the flight selection and passenger details until you reach the payment screen.
Look for "Purchase Points": On the payment page, if your points balance is insufficient for the desired redemption, Southwest will often present an option to "Purchase Points" to cover the shortfall. This is a convenient way to buy just the right amount needed.
Step 3: Determining the Quantity and Reviewing the Cost
Now that you're on the purchase page, it's time to decide how many points you need.
Select Point Increments: Southwest points are typically offered in increments. When there's a promotion, they are usually in blocks of 1,000 points. When not on promotion, they might be in blocks of 500 points.
Minimum Purchase: The minimum purchase is usually 2,000 points.
Daily Maximum: You can buy up to a combined maximum of 60,000 points per day for both personal and gift purchases.
Observe the Pricing: As you select the number of points, the total cost in USD will update. This is where you'll see the per-point cost.
Important Tip: Always do the math! Divide the total cost by the number of points to get the effective "cents per point" you are paying. Compare this to the approximate value of Southwest points (typically 1.3-1.5 cents per point for redemptions). If you're paying significantly more, consider if it's truly worth it.
Look for Promotions: This cannot be stressed enough! If you're not seeing a bonus offer directly on the purchase page, it's worth checking Southwest's "Promotions" section on their website or signing up for their email newsletters. Buying points during a 25-50% bonus promotion can drastically improve the value.
Step 4: Providing Payment Information
Once you've decided on the quantity, it's time to finalize the transaction.
Credit Card Only: Southwest requires a credit card to complete point purchase transactions.
Enter Details: Input your credit card number, expiration date, security code, and billing address.
Review and Confirm: Double-check all the details – the number of points, the total cost, and your payment information.
Acknowledge Terms and Conditions: You'll likely need to tick a box agreeing to Southwest's terms and conditions for purchasing points. It's always a good idea to briefly skim these to understand things like non-refundability and how long it takes for points to post.
Step 5: Confirmation and Point Posting
You're almost there!
Transaction Confirmation: After clicking "Submit" or "Purchase," you'll receive a confirmation screen and typically an email confirming your purchase.
Points Posting Time: While it's often quite fast, Southwest states that it can take up to 72 hours for the purchased points to post to your Rapid Rewards account. In many cases, they appear much sooner, sometimes even instantly.
Plan Ahead: If you're buying points for an immediate redemption, factor in this potential delay. Don't wait until the absolute last minute!
Verify Your Balance: Once the time frame has passed, log back into your Rapid Rewards account to verify that the points have been deposited correctly.
Step 6: Redeeming Your Newly Acquired Points (The Fun Part!)
With your boosted Rapid Rewards balance, you can now proceed with your intended redemption.
Search for Flights with Points: Go back to the Southwest.com homepage. When searching for flights, ensure you select "Points" instead of "Dollars" for the fare type.
Book Your Flight: Find the flight that matches your needs and proceed with the booking, using your Rapid Rewards points to cover the cost. Remember that the number of points required for a flight can vary based on the fare type, destination, time of travel, and demand.
Enjoy Your Trip! You've successfully bought and redeemed Southwest points for your travel.
Key Considerations and Tips
Promotions are King: Seriously, wait for a promotion if you can. The savings are significant.
Non-Refundable: Purchased points are generally non-refundable and non-reversible. Be sure of your purchase.
No Tier or Companion Pass Qualification: As mentioned, points purchased directly do not count towards A-List, A-List Preferred, or Companion Pass qualification. These statuses are earned through qualifying flights or specific credit card spending.
Points Don't Expire: One of the great perks of the Rapid Rewards program is that your points do not expire, as long as your account remains open.
Alternative Ways to Earn: While buying points is an option, remember there are many other ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points, often at a better value:
Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards: Sign-up bonuses and ongoing spending on co-branded Chase Southwest credit cards are arguably the best way to accumulate a large number of points quickly, and these do count towards Companion Pass qualification.
Flying Southwest: Earn points based on the fare type and cost of your ticket.
Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal: Earn points for online purchases from hundreds of retailers.
Rapid Rewards Dining: Earn points by dining at participating restaurants.
Hotel and Rental Car Partners: Earn points when booking with Southwest's partners.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer: If you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can transfer them to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. This is often a much better value than buying points directly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to find out if there's a Southwest points sale?
You can usually find information about ongoing promotions on the main Southwest Airlines website under the "Rapid Rewards" section, specifically the "Promotions" tab. It's also highly recommended to sign up for Southwest's email newsletters, as they often announce these sales directly to members.
How to determine the value of Southwest Rapid Rewards points?
The value of Southwest Rapid Rewards points typically ranges from 1.3 to 1.5 cents per point when redeemed for flights. You can calculate the per-point value for a specific flight by dividing the cash price of the flight (minus taxes and fees if applicable) by the number of points required for that same flight.
How to buy Southwest points as a gift for someone else?
To gift points, log into your Rapid Rewards account, navigate to the "Buy, Gift, & Transfer Points" section, and select "Gift Points." You'll need the recipient's full name and Rapid Rewards account number.
How to transfer Southwest points to another Rapid Rewards member?
Similar to gifting, you can transfer points through the "Buy, Gift, & Transfer Points" section by selecting "Transfer Points." Note that there's usually a fee associated with transferring points, and these transferred points do not count towards A-List or Companion Pass qualification.
How to use purchased Southwest points for a flight?
Once the purchased points have posted to your Rapid Rewards account, simply go to Southwest.com, search for flights, and select the "Points" option when viewing fares. Your available points will be automatically applied to the search results, allowing you to book with your new balance.
How to avoid high fees when buying Southwest points?
The best way to avoid high per-point costs is to only buy points during a promotional sale (e.g., when they offer a bonus of 25% or more). Outside of promotions, the cost per point is generally quite high compared to their redemption value.
How to earn Southwest points without buying them?
You can earn Southwest points by flying with Southwest, using Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, shopping through the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal, dining with Rapid Rewards Dining, transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points, and utilizing other travel and lifestyle partners.
How to check my Southwest Rapid Rewards points balance?
Simply log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com. Your current points balance will be prominently displayed on your account dashboard or "My Account" page.
How to understand if purchased points count towards Companion Pass?
No, points purchased directly from Southwest Airlines do not count towards the 135,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way flights needed for the Southwest Companion Pass. Only points earned from flying Southwest, credit card spending (including sign-up bonuses), and certain partner activities qualify.
How to contact Southwest Airlines customer service for points inquiries?
You can typically find customer service contact information, including phone numbers for Rapid Rewards inquiries, on the "Contact Us" section of the Southwest.com website.
